Chapter 462: Selling the House

Chen Mobai typed a line of text, and Kong Feichen understood instantly.

Thousands of Mountains and Rivers was an elegant name for the Jumang Daoist Academy, where Kong Feichen had given him the Heaven-Swallowing Serpent, entrusted with Yang Jing's divine sense.

Kong Feichen: Is something wrong?

Chen Mobai: I have a friend who was scammed a few days ago. He went to a bar to relax, but someone drugged him. When he woke up, his valuables were gone. I wanted to ask if there are any drugs that can make a Foundation Establishment cultivator fall unconscious without any resistance?

"Friend?" Kong Feichen understood almost immediately upon seeing this, but considering he would need to rely on this fellow many times in the future, he decided not to expose him.

Kong Feichen: There are many such drugs, but within the Immortal Sect, only doctors can typically obtain their formulations. If you ask me, I could list hundreds of them.

As the former top-ranked freshman at the Grand Medical Palace, Kong Feichen's talent in pharmacology was widely praised. Although resources were not abundant in the Immortal Sect, its system was highly developed, and drugs effective on Foundation Establishment cultivators were countless.

Chen Mobai: After my friend woke up, he took the cup he had drunk from. There were some dried coffee stains on the cup wall. Can the specific drug components be analyzed from these?

"A bar serves coffee?" Kong Feichen thought to himself. However, he only typed the following string of characters on the chat interface: That is possible, but our Ascendant Sect's main base is not on Diyuan Star. It might be quite troublesome if you need to send your item to me.

Chen Mobai: How troublesome would it be?

Kong Feichen: I can't come over myself. I'd have to arrange for an Ascendant Sect informant on Diyuan Star to retrieve the item, which means it would pass through several hands.

At this point in the conversation, Chen Mobai's expression became hesitant. After all, he was a legitimate successor-in-training of the Immortal Sect, and if he had such substantial contact with the Ascendant Sect, it would be a huge stain on his future if discovered.

Chen Mobai: Can't you transform into a bird and come over again?

Kong Feichen: I could, but I'm busy with something lately, so you'd have to wait a while for me.

Chen Mobai: Alright, I'm not in a hurry with this matter anyway.

Kong Feichen: Isn't it your friend's matter?

Chen Mobai: *Cough, cough*. My friend entrusted it to me, so it's essentially my concern now. I'm just a very loyal person.

Kong Feichen: Heh heh.

***

Chen Mobai, who had originally intended to stay in Chicheng Cave Abode for a while longer, truly couldn't bear to stay after this incident.

The crucial point was that he couldn't tell anyone about his loss, only able to suppress the discomfort within himself. The next day, after meeting up with Bian Jingchun, Zhongli Tianyu, and others, he merely had a quick meal before booking a flight back to Danxia City.

While he was back home handling this year's business for the Flying Talisman Factory and the Puppet Factory, another good piece of news arrived: Yan Bingxuan had passed the preliminary qualification review for studies at the Butian Daoist Academy.

The official examination was next, but it was also the most difficult, as most Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Immortal Sect who achieved their breakthrough before graduation aimed for the Four Great Daoist Academies.

Except for those like Chen Mobai who were directly invited and recruited, the remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators faced a difficulty comparable to thousands of soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge. For this reason, Yan Bingxuan did not return this year. After passing the qualification review, she remained in the School of Nature to study diligently, striving to pass the examination on her first attempt.

This was also a source of regret for Chen Mobai. However, since his entire graduating class had now finished, he almost had dinner invitations every day after returning to Danxia City, so he wasn't lonely.

Many gatherings were combination farewell and wedding banquets. For example, after Lu Hongsheng's banquet, he would be going for military service early next year.

In their graduating class, only seven people successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, including the newly added Yan Bingxuan. However, this was considered quite good compared to previous years. Some years, there wasn't even a single one.

Chen Mobai bid farewell to many people, but among them, Shi Jingjing's decision to also go for military service surprised him a little.

"Aren't you going to get married and have children?"

"I feel like I can achieve Foundation Establishment; I was just too playful before and didn't apply myself seriously."

Shi Jingjing's talent was indeed good, and her father was also a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator with extensive experience, so she was a bit unwilling to just live her life like this.

"Then I wish you success in achieving Foundation Establishment."

Chen Mobai said something pleasant. Today, they were at Immortal Sect Fifth High School, filming an alumni interview for returning graduates.

Because their graduating class produced four Foundation Establishment cultivators—Chen Mobai, Yan Bingxuan, Cao Yaling, and Shi Yuanqing—an unprecedented achievement since the school's founding, the Danxia City Education Department wanted to film it for publicity.

Chen Mobai had always maintained a good relationship with the Danxia City authorities, and he also had an emotional attachment to this high school. Taking advantage of his current free time, he gladly accepted the invitation.

Except for Yan Bingxuan, who was preparing for postgraduate entrance exams, almost everyone else came.

Chen Mobai saw Song Zheng, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Compared to his youthful arrogance, he now seemed a bit melancholic. However, he also had a pregnant wife by his side, Mo Simin.

Both of them were at the Heavenly Scripture Academy. Through years of being together, they had come to understand each other's character. In the last two years, with Mo Simin proactively reaching out, Song Zheng, who had failed to achieve Foundation Establishment, was also healed by her. Although they hadn't held a banquet yet, they had registered their marriage this year and were already husband and wife.

Chen Mobai walked over and spoke a few words with the couple. Song Zheng would enlist in the military in the latter half of next year; since his wife was pregnant, he could defer his service until after the child's birth.

"Thinking about it now, I seem to have been too overconfident in myself when I was young."

Song Zheng said this to Chen Mobai. When he was in his third year of high school, he had still dreamed of attending one of the Four Great Daoist Academies.

"You just had bad luck. In terms of talent and aptitude, you're no worse than any of us."

Chen Mobai offered comfort, but it was also the truth: Song Zheng's spiritual root and comprehension were both top-notch.

Excluding him as an exception in their class, the other three Foundation Establishment True Cultivators—Shi Yuanqing and Cao Yaling—had both received guidance from Shi Qujin, meaning they came from prominent families with naturally high starting points, in addition to their own diligent efforts.

As for Yan Bingxuan, it was due to Yan Qiongzhi's successful Core Formation and elevated status that she obtained Snow Spirit Water, and combined with the Water Mist Ice Crystals Chen Mobai acquired from the Blowing Snow Palace, she was able to successfully achieve Foundation Establishment.

Song Zheng was no worse than these three, but even with the Foundation Establishment Tri-Treasures, he still failed.

"Thanks for the comfort."

Song Zheng said with a bitter smile. At this moment, the campus interview recording also began.

***

After finishing the filming of this program, Chen Mobai announced his seclusion and would no longer attend any dinner invitations.

He retreated to his puppet factory. The Vermilion Fruit tree he had planted long ago had already blossomed and borne fruit, but it wouldn't be ripe for harvest until next year.

However, these fruits were only at the first-tier level and no longer useful to him. Still, he could let his parents, family, and friends taste them.

For Qi Cultivation cultivators, consuming them as fruit could invigorate qi and blood, strengthening the body.

After packing all the talismans produced by the puppet factory this year, Chen Mobai returned to the Tianhe Realm.

Having not visited for some time, the Beiyuan Market had already been established. The market on Wuliu Mountain had not been abolished either, so the population here was not yet very dense.

Since it had been planned in advance, after the Beiyuan Market was established, the Divine Wood Sect did not continue to develop and build Beiyuan City. After all, if there weren't many cultivators, building a city would be a waste; it was better to first ensure the market could operate.

Of course, there was another major reason: the Baose Market established by Nan Xuanjing, whose allure of Foundation Establishment Pills attracted the most elite group of ninth-layer Qi Cultivation cultivators from Yan Country to settle there.

This group of people was also the wealthiest among Qi Cultivation cultivators. If some lower-level cultivators wanted to earn spirit stones, they had to attach themselves to them or even work for them. Consequently, almost half of Yan Country's rogue cultivators flocked to Baose Market within just two months after hearing the news.

The Nanxuan Sect instantly made a name for itself. Zhou Wangshen and others were somewhat anxious about this. Some even suggested that the sect should also offer Foundation Establishment Pills to attract rogue cultivators here.

However, Chen Mobai was still the one in charge. After thinking about it, he shook his head.

In recent years, there had been successive major battles, and the Divine Wood Sect had suffered significant sacrifices. This batch of Foundation Establishment Pills first needed to be used for compensations, and then there were true disciples who had earned merits on the battlefield eagerly awaiting them. How could they be put on the market just to compete for business?

If that happened, Chen Mobai's reputation within the Divine Wood Sect's sphere of influence would certainly suffer.

"Junior Brother Chen, if things continue like this, our Beiyuan Market won't be able to develop at all. If the market can't grow, then there's no hope for a future Beiyuan Immortal City."

Zhou Wangshen couldn't help but look worried. The cultivators at the Wuliu Mountain Market were merely local Foundation Establishment families from Yan Country who, for the sake of appearances, brought their family cultivators to Beiyuan Market.

But because Chen Mobai had ordered that shops could not be sold, these cultivation families had quite a few complaints.

Some even secretly dispatched other members to the Nanxuan Sect to acquire properties and establish themselves in their market.

As for rogue cultivators, all those at the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation had gone to Baose Market, as the allure of Foundation Establishment Pills was simply too great for them.

Even if they knew most of them didn't have the financial means to bid, they might get lucky and snatch one outside the market!

With this thought, even rogue cultivators from several countries near Yan Country began to flock there after hearing the news.

The Nanxuan Sect, possessing Baose Market, thus became famous throughout most of the Eastern Barrens in a short period.

The Divine Wood Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators here were also very anxious about this. They openly and secretly employed many methods, but these were all neutralized by the Nanxuan Sect, and they even suffered some hidden losses.

However, Chen Mobai, with the Formless Puppet overseeing the area, had long been aware of this matter.

Aside from being busy with his graduation during this period, he had been devising a plan. After consulting some successful business people who graduated from the Weapon Dance Daoist Academy, he had come up with an idea.

"We can't offer Foundation Establishment Pills for now, but we can sell something else even more tempting than them."

As soon as Chen Mobai spoke these words, everyone present was bewildered, wondering what could be more enticing to rogue cultivators than Foundation Establishment Pills.

"Why do cultivators in the Eastern Barrens have such a strong desire to advance their realms? It's because they lack a sense of security."

"They fear that at any moment, they could become a corpse, with all their life's savings plundered by enemies."

"If we can sell them a sense of security, giving them the confidence that they won't become someone else's spoils of war, then I believe they will surely be willing to spend all their life's savings, or even go into debt, to purchase it."

Although these words came from a unique perspective, the Divine Wood Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators present basically understood them and found them very reasonable.

"Junior Brother Chen, how exactly do we sell this sense of security?" Zhou Wangshen immediately pressed, eager to know.

"It's simple. The Immortal Abodes we sell in Beiyuan City are that sense of security. We can guarantee, in the name of the sect, that within these abodes, even if they offend a Core Formation cultivator, we will ensure their absolute safety and protection from any threats."

Although Chen Mobai's explanation was a bit lengthy, his core idea was just two words: selling homes!

The sense of security was the special value he attached to the Beiyuan City Immortal Abodes, guaranteed under the name of the Divine Wood Sect!

Unless the Divine Wood Sect was annihilated, any cultivator residing in a Beiyuan City Immortal Abode would receive absolute protection from the Divine Wood Sect, from Core Formation cultivators all the way down to Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation practitioners, as long as they remained within their own residence.

"Junior Brother Chen, in that case, if a cultivator purchases an abode and then passes it on to their children, wouldn't our Divine Wood Sect have to protect them permanently? Wouldn't that be a significant loss for us? And the two Old Ancestors might not even agree, right?"

Yue Zutao noticed two points and briefly offered his opinion.

"That's a good point. I'll put it in writing later and submit it to the sect. Furthermore, I plan to set a term limit on the abode's property rights; it won't be permanent. Once the term expires, the abode will automatically revert to the Divine Wood Sect's ownership."

Chen Mobai had already thought out a complete plan for developing the Beiyuan Market, with the focus on the spiritual vein abodes opened along Beiyuan Mountain.

First-tier spiritual vein abodes would cost one thousand spirit stones, with a sixty-year property right.

Second-tier spiritual vein abodes would cost ten thousand spirit stones, with a one hundred and twenty-year property right. Third-tier spiritual vein abodes would not be for sale temporarily and would be for the Divine Wood Sect's own use.

Even within the Eastern Barrens, this price was considered high, and it didn't even grant permanent residency. However, once the Divine Wood Sect's protection and sense of security were added, Yue Zutao and the others felt it was being sold a bit too cheaply.

After all, within the property right's term, as long as a cultivator purchased it and remained within their abode, the Divine Wood Sect would guarantee their safety.

"Junior Brother, there's one more question. What if someone, relying on our Divine Wood Sect's protection, goes out to frantically rob and kill other cultivators and then flees back to their abode?"

Yue Zutao spoke again, asking the most crucial question. Chen Mobai smiled slightly and revealed his solution.

He set a prerequisite for purchasing an abode: those who had been robber cultivators could not buy one.

However, the Divine Wood Sect wouldn't require purchasers to verify they hadn't been robber cultivators with a Dao Heart Vow. They only needed to write this statement themselves on the abode purchase contract and then sign and stamp it.

"Junior Brother Chen, wouldn't that be redundant?" Yue Zutao and the others looked bewildered upon hearing this rule.

For cultivators, any promise not backed by a Dao Heart Vow could be easily renounced. What did signing and stamping mean? Those with thick skin would sign one moment and act the next.

"Senior Brother, everything in the world is interconnected; you can't miss a single link. This is a prerequisite for purchase. If this condition isn't met, then the purchase contract naturally isn't valid either."

If, in the future, someone attracted pursuit because they had been a robber cultivator, the Divine Wood Sect, upon verification, could use this as grounds to overturn the abode purchase contract. Since the transaction would be invalid, the Divine Wood Sect would no longer have any obligation to provide protection.

After listening, everyone present looked at Chen Mobai with utter admiration.